UPDATE: The 2025 city and school elections in Chickasaw County have concluded, but the drama is far from over. With the final unofficial results released late Thursday—more than 44 hours after polls closed on November 4—victorious write-in candidates now face crucial decisions about accepting their positions.
Strong contenders emerged from the write-in campaign, with Kayla Smith defeating three-term incumbent Tim Denner for the at-large seat on the New Hampton School Board. Smith garnered 244 votes to Denner’s 229 votes, signaling a significant shift in leadership. The question now is whether Smith will step into her role as a school board member.
In the city council races, Jeremy McGrath claimed the Ward 2 seat with just two write-in votes, while Mindy Humpal, who did not seek re-election, won with nine write-in votes for Ward 4. The stakes are high, as both McGrath and Humpal have expressed uncertainty about accepting their new roles.
The plot thickens in Nashua, where newly elected mayor Shelly Weiss also won a council seat with 16 write-in votes. Weiss must decide whether to maintain her mayoral position or take the council seat, which would pass to her opponent, Teresa Tobin, who received eight write-in votes.
In Lawler, Kurt Croell and Cole Roberson secured two open city council seats with 12 and 8 votes, respectively, while in North Washington, a lottery will determine the winner between Bob Burgart and Jacob Rasing, who each received four write-in votes, as no candidates had filed.
The implications of these write-in victories are significant. According to Iowa Code, if a write-in winner declines to serve, they must submit a resignation by 5:00 PM on the tenth day following the election canvass. Two canvasses will be held—one on Wednesday and the final on November 18. A resignation before the deadline would trigger a notification to the next highest vote-getter for potential appointment.
As the dust settles, McGrath, Humpal, and others remain undecided, although Marty Larsen, who won a position on the Park Board with 15 write-in votes, has indicated he will accept his role.
In the realm of education, both the New Hampton and Turkey Valley school board races were unique this year as no candidates appeared on the ballot. Smith’s victory is especially poignant given the circumstances; she expressed her enthusiasm saying, “I’m super excited, and I’m ready to go to work and take on this challenge.”
The urgency surrounding these elections cannot be overstated. If any write-in winners resign before the deadline, their positions will be declared vacant, leading to additional complexities for the councils to either appoint replacements or call for special elections.
In Nashua, Missy Sinnwell and Jordan Masters emerged victorious for open seats in District 1, with 122 and 111 votes, respectively. The resignation of any of these winners would immediately vacate their seats, making the stakes even more pressing.
As we await the decisions of these write-in candidates, the future of city and school governance hangs in the balance. Stay tuned for updates as these pivotal choices unfold, and community leaders prepare for their new terms starting on January 1.